Robert Barchi, the Rutgers president, said this morning if the school was to receive an invitation from any athletic conference, as a point of procedure, the school's athletic director, Tim Pernetti, would not need the authorization of the Rutgers Board of Governors to accept.

According to Barchi, speaking at Wynants Hall in New Brunswick to announce the university's integration with UMDNJ, Pernetti was apparently given that authority last year when conference realignment rumors regarding Rutgers were heating up.

"Under normal circumstances, (the board of governors) would give the athletic director and the president the authority to act on their behalf," said Barchi. "We do that with union contracts, we do that with a whole range of things."

Asked specifically if Pernetti already had that authority, Barchi indicated it was granted to Pernetti last year.

"A year ago, yes I think he had that," said Barchi, who took over as the school's president on Sept. 1. "That was before my time. (But) I think that was the case."

Barchi would not, however, speak on Rutgers leaving the Big East should the Big Ten offer an invite.

"We're here to talk about the events of this morning and we're not going to comment on anything outside of that at this particular event," he said.

Greg Brown, a member of Rutgers' board of governors and board of trustees, declined comment on Rutgers' possible move to the Big Ten, referring all questions to the university's president, Robert Barchi.